Horizon Storms - Kevin J. Anderson [164]
Like a puppy turned loose, Kotto moved excitedly around the room. “You saw the plans already, but here’s what we did. We reinforced the load-bearing walls with solid beams of worldtree wood. Could have used metal or polymer composites, but I thought you’d prefer a more natural look.” He rapped his knuckles on sturdy ripple-grained beams that supported parts of the large room. “Underneath the city, we had to install a network of braces and struts. Right now it looks a little raw, but you could plant vines or other foliage to cover the framework.”
Idriss said, “Our people will be glad enough just to come home.”
“Home.” Alexa’s voice caught in her throat. “This meeting chamber was where we crowned Reynald. It seems like only yesterday. And now both Reynald and Beneto are dead.” She turned to Idriss, her eyes glimmering with tears. “Why is Sarein taking so long to come home? I was sure she’d be here by now.”
Idriss said, “Nahton assured us she’s arriving soon.”
Kotto led them into corridors that burrowed through the reef. “Look, we’ve installed new plumbing and power conduits throughout. Many of the old ventilation systems were inefficient and tangled. Some of them went to dead ends. Whoever maintained the circulation systems seemed to be making it up as they went along.”
Idriss looked at his wife. “Yes, that’s how it was installed in the first place.”
“Well, it’s much more efficient now. You’ll notice a clear difference when you use it.” Kotto strutted beside the two leaders, who looked shell-shocked and uncertain about all the changes and improvements, although Alexa and Idriss would probably never figure out how to use most of them.
As if sensing his thoughts, Alexa touched her husband’s muscular arm. “These are changes we can live with, Idriss. Our world will never be the same.”
Kotto wandered ahead, still chatting. “Enough of this city is restored for a third of the original population to move back in…maybe half, if they’re willing to crowd together in close quarters.”
Alexa showed little cheer despite the good news. “We won’t need to crowd—we lost too many people during the attack.”
Kotto looked embarrassed and saddened. “I didn’t mean to get so excited.”
Soot-stained and out of breath, Cesca’s father hurried in from the outer deck and trudged along the corridors, calling out, “Cesca!” He wiped his sweaty dark hair away from his forehead when he found his daughter. “One of our ships just came in with a message from the Osquivel shipyards. Del Kellum needs Kotto’s assistance.”
The engineer raised his eyebrows. “But there’s still plenty of work to do here.”
Denn grinned. “Kellum’s found a small hydrogue derelict, completely intact. He thought you’d be the best person to investigate it—if you’re at all interested.”
The engineer sucked in a quick breath. “A real drogue craft, still functional? Not just broken wreckage like those pieces the Hansa took from here?”
“Whole and unbreached, a pristine opportunity for some intrepid investigator.” Cesca recognized her father’s provocative smile from times he had teased her when she was a little girl.
Kotto had had a long string of accomplishments in his career; among all the clans, Cesca knew there was no better person for the job. He had a voracious mind, had studied all forms of technology from Hansa to Ildiran, and had even read every available document on Klikiss ruins that archaeologists had filed. “You have to go, Kotto.”
“But there’s still so much here—”
She enunciated each word clearly. “You have to go, Kotto.”
Like a child, he resisted just a moment more, then grinned. “Yes—yes, I do. When can we leave?”
Denn made a grand gesture toward the exit. “Now that the forest fires are put out, Torin Tamblyn wants to get back to the water mines on Plumas. He’ll give you a ride.”
After Kotto hurried away, bubbling with excitement, Cesca accompanied Idriss and Alexa to an open balcony from which they could watch the continuing activity. In the distance, they heard the droning hum of machinery, and saw Therons and Roamers hooking up cables while heavy lifters